Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cosmetic applicator
and, in particular, to an applicator for applying liquid
cosmetics, such as mascara, to eyelashes or other parts of
the body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of an applicator or brush is to
pick up an adequate supply of material, such as mascara,
from a container, carry it from the reservoir of the
container without dripping, and apply it evenly to the
particular area of the body, such as, for example,
eyelashes. This needs to be achieved without depositing
lumps or blobs of the material on the eyelashes.
To do so, it is important that the bristle ends of the
applicator have a distribution that permits the pick up of
an adequate supply of material and retains it until it is
applied to the eyelashes. It is also important that the
filaments that form the bristle ends have sufficient
structural strength to comb the material or mascara through
the eyelashes.
A conventional mascara brush has a twisted wire core,
and a bristle portion. The bristle portion has a plurality
of plastic filaments. Each plastic filament is gripped by
the twisted wire medially of its ends to form bristle ends.
U.S. Patent No. 4,887,622 to Gueret is directed to a
brush of this type in which the bristle ends extend radially
from the core as a helical array and are disposed in a
manner to avoid interference of the bristle ends of one turn
with the bristle ends of adjacent turns. Each filament has
a diameter from 0.10 to 0.25 mm. The number of filaments
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per helical turn of the twisted wire core is approximately
to 40.
U.S. Patent No. 4,993,440 to Gueret is also directed to
5 a mascara brush that has a twisted wire core, and a bristle
portion. The bristle portion has a plurality of plastic
filaments. Each plastic filament is gripped by the twisted
wire medially of its ends to form bristle ends. This patent
also provides that each filament has one or more U or V
10 shaped capillary channels formed in its surface. The sides
of the U or V shaped capillary channel converge slightly
toward each other near their free ends before again
diverging outward to a zone where the channel opens out at
the surface of the filament. The bristle ends are disposed
to extend radially from the wire core, and are distributed
to avoid interference of the bristle ends of one turn with
the bristle ends of adjacent turns.
U.S. Patent No. 4,733,425 to Hartel, et al. is directed
to a brush of the type described above in U.S. Patent No.
4,887,622. In this Hartel patent, the plastic filament
bristle ends flare outwardly in various directions when
gripped by the twisted wire. This outward flaring forms a
bristle end distribution pattern that is uniform at the
bristle face. The filament is described as a hollow or
tubular polyamide, or one that has a non-circular cross
section.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved applicator that picks up an adequate supply of the
liquid and applies it evenly without lumping.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide such an improved applicator that is used as a
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mascara applicator or brush to apply a liquid cosmetic, such
as mascara.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide such an improved applicator that has a uniform
distribution of the bristle ends throughout, and a filament
density of approximately 45 to approximately 60 filaments
per helical turn.
These and other objects of the present invention will
be achieved by an applicator according to the present
invention that has a core of twisted wire that forms a
plurality of helical turns. The applicator includes a
bristle portion that is formed of a plurality of filaments
with each filament being crimped medially of its ends by the
wire core. The ends of the crimped filament form bristles
or bristle ends that flare outwardly in various directions
from the core. This flaring forms a uniform distribution of
the bristle ends throughout the bristle portion. The
filament density in the bristle portion is approximately 45
to approximately 60 filaments per helical turn.
Each filament has a central core with at least two
spaced apart radially extending flanges. In some
embodiments, at least one of the flanges is bent. In other
embodiments, at least one of the flanges radially extends
from the central core in a nonlinear manner. Preferably,
the central core is hollow. The area along the central core
between adjacent flanges holds mascara by surface tension.
In one preferred embodiment, the bristle portion of the
brush has a generally square cross section. At the free end
of the brush, the bristle portion tapers to a circular cross
section.
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Other and further objects, advantages and features of
the present invention will be understood by reference to the
following specification in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference characters denote like
elements of structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of an applicator
according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an end view of the applicator of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the section defined by
lines 3 of the applicator of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a filament of the
applicator of Fig. 1; and
Figs. 5 through 15 are cross sectional views of
alternative filaments for the applicator of Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and, in particular, Fig. 1,
there is provided an applicator or brush according to the
present invention, generally represented by reference
numeral 10, The applicator 10 has a core 12, a rod 14, a
cap 16 and a bristle portion 20.
The core 12 is formed from a U-shaped length of wire
that is twisted about itself. The wire for wire core 12 is
preferably a metallic wire.
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Rod 14 covers a portion of wire core 12 that extends to
the right of bristle portion 20. Rod 14 is secured to this
portion of wire core 12 by a suitable fastener, such as by
coining and heat sealing. Rod 14 extends into cap 16 and is
suitably secured to the cap by conventional means.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, bristle portion 20 is
formed of a plurality of filaments 30. Bristle portion 20
has a first end 24 towards rod 14, and a second or free
distal end 26 opposite the first end. Second end 26 has a
taper 28. Basically, bristle portion 20 has a generally
uniform and square cross section 21 with taper 28 having a
generally circular cross section 29, as shown clearly in
Fig. 2. To obtain the square cross section 21, the bristle
ends 22 are clipped by conventional cutter means. In the
cutting operation, the edges or corners are rounded to give
a comfortable application.
Each filament 30 is preferably formed of a plastic
filament. Each plastic filament 30 is crimped medially of
its ends by wire core 12 whereby its ends form bristle ends
22. For example, bristle ends 22~ are formed by a filament
30~ crimped by core 12 as shown in Fig. 3. The bristle
material and shape is such that the crimping action causes
the bristle ends 22~ to flare radially outward from core 12
in various directions. The effect of the multidirectional
flaring of bristle ends 22 is that they uniformly fill the
spaces between adjacent turns of core 12. This gives the
effect of a uniform distribution of bristle ends 22
throughout bristle portion 20.
The density of filaments 30 in bristle portion 20 is
preferably in the range of about 45 to about 60 filaments
per helical turn. A helical turn is one turn of core 12.
More preferably, the density is in the range of about 48 to
about 60 filaments per turn. Most preferably, the density
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is in the range of about 45 to about 55 filaments per
helical turn. A density in this range has been found to
give an even application of mascara without forming lumps of
mascara on the eyelashes or on bristle portion 20.
In use, the brush 10 is gripped by the cap 16 and
dipped into a reservoir of liquid material, such as mascara.
The brush is withdrawn from the reservoir through a narrow
orifice by a wiping action to obtain a distribution of
mascara on bristle portion 20 suitable for applying to the
eyelashes or other hair.
Referring to Fig. 4, each of the plurality of bristles
30 generally has a central core 32 with a bore 38
therethrough, and spaced apart portions or flanges 33, 34,
35 and 36 extending outward from the periphery or exterior
surface of the core.
The bore 38 may be a circular bore. Preferably, bore
38 is a generally oblong shaped bore.
The central core 32 has an overall square
configuration, except for outwardly extending flange
portions 33, 34, 35 and 36. As shown in Fig. 4, flange
portions 33, 34, 35 and 36 are formed on what would
otherwise be the edge of the square shaped core. It should
be understood that although four flanges are shown in Fig.
4, the present invention encompasses embodiments that have
two or more such flanges.
Flanges 33, 34, 35 and 36 are bent in the same
direction about the periphery of central core 32. The area
along the periphery between adjacent pair of flanges 33, 34,
and 36 is area 37. Each area 37 holds or retains mascara
35 by surface tension.
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The maximum cross sectional dimension of each filament
26, and thus each bristle 30, is about 0.08 to about 0.18
mm. Preferably, the maximum cross sectional dimension is
aboutØ10 to about 0.15 mm.
The filaments 26 for each pair of bristles 30 shown in
Fig. 4 may be obtained commercially from Dupont De Nemours
Corporation.
Referring to Figs. 5 through 15, a plurality of
alternative filaments is provided according to the
invention. Referring first to Fig. 5, a filament 50 has a~
central core 52 with a first pair of approximately identical
curled flanges 53 and 55 radially extending in approximately
opposite directions. A second pair of approximately
identical flanges 54 and 56 also extend from core 52 in
opposite directions.
Referring to Fig. 6, a filament 60 has a central core
62 with a first pair of approximately identical curled
flanges 64 and 66 radially extending in approximately
opposite directions. A second pair of approximately
identical T-shaped flanges 63 and 65 also extend from core
62 in opposite directions.
Referring to Fig. 7, a filament 70 has a central core
72 with a first pair of approximately identical curled
flanges 74 and 76 radially extending in approximately
opposite directions. A second pair of approximately
identical curled flanges 73 and 75 also extend from core 72
in opposite directions.
Referring to Fig. 8, a filament 80 has a central core
82 with radially extending cruciform shaped flanges 83, 84,
85 and 86. Flanges 83 and 85 extend from core 82 in
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approximately opposite directions and flanges 84 and 86
extend from core 82 in approximately opposite directions.
Referring to Fig. 9, a filament 90 has a central core
92 with radially extending T-shaped flanges 93, 94, 95 and
96. Flanges 93 and 95 extend from core 82 in approximately
opposite directions and flanges 94 and 96 extend from core
92 in approximately opposite directions.
Referring to Fig. 10, a filament 100 has a central core
102 with radially extending curled flanges 103, 104, 105 and
106. Approximately identical flanges 103 and 105 extend
from core 102 in approximately opposite directions and
approximately identical flanges 104 and 106 extend from core
102 in approximately opposite directions.
Referring to Fig. 11, a filament 110 has a central core
112 with radially extending curled flanges 113, 114, 115 and
116. Approximately identical flanges 113 and 115 extend
from core 112 in approximately opposite directions and
approximately identical flanges 114 and 116 extend from core
112 in approximately opposite directions.
Referring to Fig. 12, a filament 120 has a central core
122 with radially extending flanges 123, 124, 125 and 126.
Approximately identical curled flanges 123 and 125 extend
from core 122 in approximately opposite directions and
approximately identical fishtail shaped flanges 124 and 126
extend from core 122 in approximately opposite directions.
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Referring to Fig. 13, a filament 130 has a central core
132 with radially extending curled flanges 133, 134, 135 and
136. Adjacent flanges 135 and 136 curl in opposite
directions toward one another. All other adjacent flanges
curl in the same direction. For example, adjacent flanges
134 and 135 curl in the same direction.
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Referring to Fig. 14, a filament 140 has a central core
142 with radially extending fishtail shaped flanges 143,
144, 145 and 146. Approximately identical flanges 143 and
145 extend from core 142 in approximately opposite
directions and approximately identical flanges 144 and 146
extend from core 142 in approximately opposite directions.
Referring to Fig. 15, a filament 150 has a central core
152 with radially extending flanges 153, 154, 155 and 156.
Approximately identical curled flanges 153 and 155 extend
from core 152 in approximately opposite directions, and
approximately identical fishtail shaped flanges 154 and 156
extend from core 152 in approximately opposite directions.
Flanges 153 and 155 curl toward adjacent fishtail shaped
flange 154 and curl away from adjacent fishtail shaped
flange 156.
Several of the flanges extend non-linearly from their
respective central cores. For example, T-shaped flanges 63
and 65, shown in Fig. 6, extend nonlinearly from central
core 62 and cruciform flanges 83 through 86, shown in Fig.
8, extend nonlinearly from central core 82.
The present invention having been thus described with
particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will
be obvious that various changes and modifications may be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
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